Guilty of rape, jailed - then deported

Palais de Justice, Genève

It was rape — and a rape marked by cruelty.

That was the clear conclusion of the Geneva Criminal Court. An Algerian man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for the sexual assault of an American tourist in 2024. 

After serving his sentence, he will be deported from Switzerland for twelve years.

Judges relied heavily on hotel CCTV footage showing the victim resisting, and being forcibly taken away. 

Medical and forensic evidence confirmed rape and assault. The court rejected the defence’s request for acquittal based on the woman’s initial statements – which it claimed was inconsistent.

Judges disagreed, saying her account was credible, consistent and measured. 

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